Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 31st July
Abbot Paul • July 30, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Sunday, 31st July 2022
Even when using parables to get his message across, Jesus is inevitably blunt and direct in telling people what he thinks and in giving them an answer to the questions they ask. Think of the man in the crowd in today’s Gospel, who asks Jesus, “Master, tell my brother to give me a share of our inheritance.” Not the sort of question to ask Jesus, though the poor man could have been fighting for his rights in a family feud. Jesus replies, “My friend, who appointed me your judge, or the arbitrator of your claims?” In fact, his quarrel has nothing to do with Jesus. However, our Lord uses that situation to teach the crowd some important truths about avarice and the love of material things. We are reading Luke’s Gospel, (Lk 12: 13-21). He begins by saying, “Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for a man’s life is not made secure by what he owns, even when he has more than he needs.” Jesus talks about avarice of any kind, for there are, indeed, many kinds of avarice, including spiritual avarice, when we keep for ourselves the good things that God has given or taught us to share with others.
Jesus then tells them a parable about a rich man, who keeps storing his grain and all his goods and hording so much that he has to build bigger and better barns and storerooms, but then, suddenly, he dies and has to leave it all behind. In fact, on the night he dies, God appears to him and says, “Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?” Now the rich man isn’t criticised for being rich or for setting aside some of his harvest for a rainy day, but because he wasn’t practising prudence and stewardship, rather he was steeped in avarice, greed and selfishness. What a sad picture the man paints. Instead of doing good, he becomes obsessed with the possession of material things. Frankly, we could compare this with President Putin and the war on Ukraine. Russia is a vast country, laden with natural resources and immense power, culture and wealth, including its rich tapestry of peoples. Did he really need to take over Crimea and now invade vast tracts of Eastern, Central and Southern Ukraine? He is just like that man in the parable. He, too, will die and face judgement. Political and nationalistic avarice and greed are grave sins, let alone causing the death of tens of thousands of soldiers, both Ukrainian and Russian. Mothers on both sides weep the loss of their sons and wives the loss of their husbands. Children no longer have fathers. And for what?
Jesus ends by saying, “So it is, when a man stores up treasure for himself in place of making himself rich in the sight of God.” Jesus wants his disciples and all those who listen to his teaching to grow in virtue and holiness. All wealth, all possessions will come to an end, great empires ultimately fall and cultures disappear, but an act of generosity and kindness, of forgiveness and reconciliation will be written in the book of life and not forgotten for all eternity. Let us pray for the grace to store up treasure in the sight of God and to follow the teaching and example of Jesus in all things. Lord, free us from avarice of all kinds. Amen.
"A hymn to the human body." Abbot Brendan's Homily at the annual Mass celebrated at Rotherwas Chapel in Hereford that dates from the 1580s on the feast of the Assumption.
From Francis to Leo: A special event with Christopher Lamb of CNN in conversation with Austin Ivereigh who commentated for the BBC on the transition from Pope Francis to Pope Leo.
On 12th June an Ecumenical Service was held at Hereford Cathedral to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea.
Archbishop Mark O'Toole, of Cardiff-Menevia presided at the Requiem Mass for Bishop Mark, while Abbot Brendan conducted his burial. Cardinal Vincent Nichols preached a homily full of warmth and affection for Bishop Mark which is reproduced below.
Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB RIP Given at his funeral by Dom Alexander Kenyon Baby Jean Pierre (Mark) Jabale was born on October 16th, 1933, in Alexandria, Egypt. As he said, himself, his background could be considered “cosmopolitan”: his father was Lebanese / French and his Mother, British / Greek / French. He also reminded people that he wasn’t Egyptian. Through his mother, Arlette, he was related to St. Jean Vianney, so it was, perhaps, no surprise that he followed in his priestly footsteps. His father, Jean, was MD of Fiat and Simca cars Europe and, maybe surprisingly or not, he did love a car – not, however, Italian cars, but German; he loved his Audis. Perhaps we should begin today by remembering his mother and father, his brothers Christian and Paul and his nieces, here today, Aline and Nathalie and Isabelle and their families – they were so dear to him and he to them and I know they miss him enormously. Young Jean wanted to join the Navy and came to England, to Belmont Abbey school but the Lord had other ideas – he ended up joining the rather land locked monastery, our dear, late Fr. Raymund opining that he wouldn’t last a month. After a rather uninspiring course of priestly studies (his words, not mine) he studied for a Licentiate in French literature in Fribourg, then a Dip Ed at Strawberry Hill and played Rugby there – the Papist Witch Doctor as he was affectionately known. Teaching followed, at Belmont, Housemaster, acting Headmaster, then to Alderwasley, our prep school in Derbyshire as Headmaster, and then back to Belmont soon after as Headmaster. In 1983 he went to Peru to build our first monastery there only to realise there was little money. So, he returned to the UK to put in a stint of fundraising with his usual zeal and determination. With his mission accomplished he was asked by Abbot Alan to return to Belmont as his prior in 1986 – Peru remained close to his heart. In 1993 he was elected Abbot. In his time as Abbot, he had to preside over the closure of the school, necessary but no less painful for him. In 2000 he was appointed coadjutor Bishop of Menevia and succeeded Bishop Mullins in 2001. He retired as Ordinary in 2008 and “retired” to Chipping Norton as parish priest, then Hendon, saying Mass for the nuns and helping with confirmations. After a spell at Archbishop’s House, Westminster, living with his great friend Cardinal Nichols, he came home to Belmont – it was as though he had never been away and he loved being back in the monastery, particularly praying the Office with the community. That’s the list, of sorts, but it doesn’t really say “who” he was. I haven’t mentioned his outstanding contribution to rowing – the 1979 coxless, lightweight four gold medal at the world championships in Bled, which almost didn’t happen as, at the last minute, he was told there was no money to send the crew. He begged, cajoled and got them there – the video footage of the final is compelling. He transformed Henley Royal Regatta, writing a computer programme for the race results – he was well ahead of his time. He coached the Oxford Boat, ran the Heads of the River Schools Regatta, and more. What an achievement from someone who had never sat in a boat but learned on the job, as he said, “from books, mainly”. It was his determination, his commitment, his love of people and his drive to share what he had that is, perhaps, one of the key things to celebrate about him. And it was underpinned by his rock-solid faith – nothing overly pious, nothing showy, but a faith and a love of the Lord built on granite. Even his occasional lack of patience (sorry Mark) extended to that faith; ‘why won’t God call me?”. At the risk of being irreverent my response was always “would you want you?”. But God did want him, and he knew it. God had a purpose for his Apostle during his life and he now rests with Him in eternity. His purpose was, simply, to bring the joy of the Lord into the lives of others, in many and varied ways. A few weeks before Mark died, Pope Francis died. When the late Pope was seriously ill the son of friends of mine who entertained Mark and I to lunch regularly, was distraught at overhearing mum and dad say the Pope may die. He couldn’t stop crying. “But darling”, they said, “you don’t know the Pope, why so very sad?”. “We do know him” came the reply, “it’s Mark”. “No, Mark isn’t the Pope”. “Oh, so when the Pope does die will Mark be Pope then?”. Mark loved that one. When Mark himself did die said son would only be pacified by picking flowers from the garden and bringing them to church for him. He wanted to show how much Mark meant to him and wanted to give a little something back. That is the real biography – a man loved, respected, a man who shared what he had, above all his faith, a man who touched so many lives and made them better.  Rest in peace our dear friend.
Our brethren in Peru were delighted with the election of Pope Leo.
